Behavioral neuroscience of thirst and salt appetite

Daniels Laboratory for the Study of Ingestive Behavior

Thirst and salt appetite are critical drives that help us maintain a proper balance of fluid in our bodies. This balance is important because excess volume causes hypertension, and dehydration can cause cognitive deficits, fatigue, headaches, and even death. Our laboratory studies how the brain controls drinking behavior, with a particular focus on peptide systems that influence this behavior. Our studies use a multilevel approach to test hypotheses about the genes, proteins, and neural circuits that control water and salt intake. For information on specific areas of interest, please see the Research Projects section found under the menu above.

The laboratory often has openings for graduate and undergraduate research positions. Please contact us for more information: